Time for Brumation?

[guidofatherof5]

Is brumation some horrible thing that people are affraid of? If your in no hurry to put size on your snake then why not give it a cooling period? The days are starting to be shorter, temps are dropping. A cooling period is good for snakes

Not horrible but it is dangerous. It might be natural for some snakes but we have no idea how many wild snakes die from brumation. We certainly have had our share of knowledgeable breeders that have lost snakes for some unknown reason.

[Peterra]

Not horrible but it is dangerous. It might be natural for some snakes but we have no idea how many wild snakes die from brumation. We certainly have had our share of knowledgeable breeders that have lost snakes for some unknown reason.

Deaths from brumation (might provide an indication of the dangers of brumating):

Factors influencing the emergence of a northern population of Eastern Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis sauritus) from artificial hibernacula

"Of the 15 T. sauritus that were placed in artificial hibernacula, 12 survived hibernation. Three out of five snakes in the hibernacula with a reversing thermal gradient survived hibernation; all snakes in the hibernacula where water level was raised survived; and four snakes out of five in the control hibernacula survived hibernation."

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http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Z09-114

[BUSHSNAKE]

Not horrible but it is dangerous. It might be natural for some snakes but we have no idea how many wild snakes die from brumation. We certainly have had our share of knowledgeable breeders that have lost snakes for some unknown reason.

Oh really, how were the snakes kept?

[BUSHSNAKE]

Not horrible but it is dangerous. It might be natural for some snakes but we have no idea how many wild snakes die from brumation. We certainly have had our share of knowledgeable breeders that have lost snakes for some unknown reason.

You have the Evolution and Ecology book dont you Steve. Go read the last paragraph on hibernation on page 113.

[Peterra]

You have the Evolution and Ecology book dont you Steve. Go read the last paragraph on hibernation on page 113.

I do not have that book, can you let us know what it says, please? Very interested in the academic literature on garters et al similar to garters.

[BUSHSNAKE]

Not horrible but it is dangerous. It might be natural for some snakes but we have no idea how many wild snakes die from brumation. We certainly have had our share of knowledgeable breeders that have lost snakes for some unknown reason.

Infact...why dont you take a picture and post what it says for us, not all of us are knowledgable breeders like the people you know

[Albert Clark]

Infact...why dont you take a picture and post what it says for us, not all of us are knowledgable breeders like the people you know

Actually i read the paragraph you are referring to Joe and it says "juvenile snakes may follow adult pheromone trails to locate dens for the first time". Key words here are "juvenile" and "may". There is a difference between a 30 day old snake (neonate) and a "juvenile" 6mos. up to 1yr. old. Especially a 30 day old snake that probably has only had the number of meals you can count on one hand. We all know what we don't know Joe. No need to attack the knowledge or lack of in any case of anyone. "Juvenile" kind of refers to a animal who is also well started with adequate fat reserves and nutritionally stable. Other key word "may" denotes that a juvenile may or may not follow adult pheromone trails.

[BUSHSNAKE]

Actually i read the paragraph you are referring to Joe and it says "juvenile snakes may follow adult pheromone trails to locate dens for the first time". Key words here are "juvenile" and "may". There is a difference between a 30 day old snake (neonate) and a "juvenile" 6mos. up to 1yr. old. Especially a 30 day old snake that probably has only had the number of meals you can count on one hand. We all know what we don't know Joe. No need to attack the knowledge or lack of in any case of anyone. "Juvenile" kind of refers to a animal who is also well started with adequate fat reserves and nutritionally stable. Other key word "may" denotes that a juvenile may or may not follow adult pheromone trails.

Wrong paragraph.

[Albert Clark]

Wrong paragraph.

It's the right paragraph as it pertains to the OP question on brumating a neonatal garter who only missed a couple of days between meals. Because Steve and i were all on the page that snake is too young and nutritionally not ready. If i understand you correctly you're saying age and nutritional status have no bearing on consideration to brumate in the captive terrarium?